[naviga:h3]Pro Football HOF inductees announced[/naviga:h3]

SAN FRANCISCO — Brett Favre, Ken Stabler, Marvin Harrison, Kevin Greene, Orlando Pace and Tony Dungy have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The class of 2016 also includes contributor Ed DeBartolo Jr. and senior selection Dick Stanfel.

The announcement was made a day before the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl.

Five nominees were eliminated in the final vote: players Terrell Davis, Joe Jacoby, John Lynch and Kurt Warner, and coach Don Coryell.

[naviga:h3]Lynch indicates likely retirement[/naviga:h3]

SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch may have given indication he’s retiring.

Lynch sent a tweet during the fourth quarter the Super Bowl with a pair of cleats hanging from a power line, along with an emoji depicting a peace sign.

Lynch’s tweet was immediately followed by statement of thanks and congratulations from teammates including Richard Sherman and Bruce Irvin. Messages left for Lynch’s representatives were not immediately returned.

[naviga:h3]Panther QB Newton named NFL MVP[/naviga:h3]

SAN FRANCISCO — Cam Newton won The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award in a landslide.

The Carolina Panthers’ All-Pro quarterback received 48 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league. Fellow QBs Tom Brady, a two-time MVP, and Carson Palmer each got one vote.

Newton set an NFL mark for the position with 45 touchdowns this season: 35 passing and 10 rushing. He also ranked sixth in passer rating (99.4) while throwing for 3,837 yards. His 636 yards on the ground easily led all QBs, and the 10 touchdowns rushing were more than All-Pro running back Doug Martin of Tampa Bay scored.

Newton’s coach, Ron Rivera, took home Coach of the Year award for the second time in three years. J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in five seasons, tying Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the only players to take that award three times.

[naviga:h3]Clippers lose guard Rivers to injury[/naviga:h3]

MIAMI — Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken left hand.

Rivers was hurt during the Clippers’ home game against Minnesota on Wednesday, and the injury was originally diagnosed as a bruise. But when the pain persisted, further exams were performed, and the break was found.

Rivers, the son of Clippers coach Doc Rivers, has averaged 8.1 points in about 22 minutes per game this season.

The Clippers are still without forward Blake Griffin.